To the Kentucky State Legislature,

We, the undersigned, respectfully petition for the implementation of Peewee’s Law, a mandatory helmet law aimed at protecting motorcyclists and reducing fatalities on Kentucky’s roads. This law would require all motorcyclists and passengers, regardless of age or experience, to wear a Department of Transportation (DOT) certified helmet.
This law is named in honor of my father, Peewee, who tragically wrecked on April 20, 2024, due to another driver’s actions. Sadly, he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. While he always wore a helmet in states with mandatory helmet laws, Kentucky’s lax helmet regulations left him vulnerable on that day. His story is a reminder that helmet use saves lives, and stronger laws could have made a difference in his outcome.

 • According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), helmets reduce the risk of death by 37% for motorcycle operators and 41% for passengers.

 • A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that unhelmeted riders are three times more likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in crashes compared to helmeted riders.

 • In Kentucky, motorcycle fatalities increased by 16% between 2019 and 2022, with the majority involving unhelmeted riders.

 • States with universal helmet laws report a 20-40% decrease in motorcycle fatalities compared to states with partial or no helmet laws.

 • Medical costs for unhelmeted motorcyclists are significantly higher, leading to greater public healthcare costs. The CDC estimates that helmet use saves approximately $1 billion in economic costs annually in the U.S.

 • Kentucky’s public healthcare systems often bear the financial burden of treating unhelmeted riders, especially in cases of long-term disability resulting from head injuries.

Peewee’s Law: What It Proposes
• All motorcyclists and passengers must wear DOT-approved helmets while riding on public roads.

 • Fines and penalties will be applied for non-compliance, with the goal of promoting safety and reducing the financial strain on emergency healthcare services.

 • Public education campaigns will accompany the implementation of this law to inform riders about the life-saving benefits of helmets.

By enacting Peewee’s Law, Kentucky can significantly reduce the number of preventable deaths and injuries on its roads, relieve pressure on the healthcare system, and enhance public safety for all motorcyclists.

Peewee’s Law is a crucial step toward safer roads and healthier communities. We urge lawmakers to act swiftly to protect Kentucky’s motorcyclists from unnecessary harm, in memory of those we’ve lost, like my dad, Peewee.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned